Letting Go of Summer

As the days shorten and the golden light of late summer fades, there’s often a quiet melancholy that settles in. The air grows cooler, the evenings draw in, and the explosion of colour that once filled the hedgerows gives way to something gentler, more muted. For many of us, autumn arrives not just as a change in weather, but as a shift within. Autumn is a reminder that nothing stays the same, and that every season asks something new of us.

Gratitude for What Has Been

Before we rush ahead into a new season, there is wisdom in pausing to look back. Taking a moment to appreciate what summer gave us can help us close the season with a sense of peace - take a moment now and recall memories of laughter, the warmth of the sea, the last rays of sunlight, or joyful stillness.

Gratitude does not mean pretending everything was perfect, but recognising the good that existed alongside the difficult. In a world that continues to feel unsettled — with world conflict, economic unease, and the heavy pulse of the news cycle — turning our focus to the simple, grounding details of our own lives can be an act of quiet resilience. Gratitude reconnects us with what is also still true and still good in the universe.

Moving With Change

It’s human nature to resist change, especially when it carries an undertone of loss. The transition from summer to autumn often mirrors the cycles we experience internally, times when something warm and familiar must be released to make room for the unknown. Yet, the more we resist the turning of the seasons, the more we exhaust ourselves trying to hold back what is inevitable.

Nature never fights its own rhythms. Trees don’t cling to their leaves out of fear of bareness; they let go because it is part of how they survive. In doing so they create space for rest and renewal. Perhaps we can take our cue from them by leaning into the season rather than bracing against it. Slowing down, lighting candles, finding comfort in small routines — these are not acts of giving up, but of adapting, of moving with life rather than demanding it stay still.

Practical Ways to Ease Into Autumn

During the warm sunny days of summer it’s easier to navigate the overriding feeling of doom and negativity world wide, and so moving forward into autumn and the dark days ahead, how do we navigate this season well? Small, mindful adjustments can help us align with the season’s slower rhythm. 

• Begin by noticing the light; allow yourself to rise with softer mornings and wind down earlier in the evening. 

• Refresh your surroundings with touches of warmth; a thicker blanket, a favourite mug, or the gentle glow of a lamp. 

• Nourish your body with comforting, seasonal foods; soups, root vegetables, and spices that steady and ground. 

• Spend time outdoors, even as the air cools; the changing landscape offers perspective and calm. 

• Make space for rest and reflection; journaling, reading, or breathing deeply.

• Take things with a pinch of salt; if the dark days, both literally and metaphorically, feel never-ending; remember, they are only for a season. Sooner or later, the days will stretch and the flowers will bloom again. 

These small acts of care help us move gracefully with the season rather than resist it, reminding us that change can be both grounding and beautiful.

Closing Thoughts

As we step into this new season, may we carry gratitude for what has been, compassion for what is, and openness to what’s coming. Letting go of summer is about allowing life to move through its cycles without needing to control the tide. In a world that feels uncertain, perhaps the greatest act of steadiness we can offer is acceptance: a willingness to move with change, rather than against it.

@Ease Creative Integrative Therapies and Supervision with Val Phillips 2025